The Serpent of Venice: A Novel

Venice, a really long time ago: Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from Britain who also happens to be a favorite of the Doge: The rascal-Fool Pocket. This trio of cunning plotters have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising a spirited evening. Their invitation is, of course, bogus. These scoundrels have something far less amusing planned for the man who has consistently foiled their quest for power and wealth. But this Fool is no fool.…

Christopher Moore is no fool. He's one of the funniest and (only in the best way) sickest writers who ever penned a Shakespeare spoof. To get the most of this one I think one needs a passing recollection of a couple of Shakespeare plays (Merchant of Venice, Othello) throw in some Poe (Cask of Amontillado), a 1950's monster flick, and the willingness to listen to some junior high school humor spoken in a British accent and you've got the perfect way to giggle through an afternoon. Careful not to drink anything while you're listening - - I almost coughed up a lung full of coffee onto my iPad. Oh, and if you want to go in order, pick up Fool by Christopher Moore first, then go here. Great fun.

Trouble in Mudbug

Scientist Maryse Robicheaux thought that a lot of her problems had gone away with her mother-in-law's death. The woman was rude, pushy, manipulative and used her considerable wealth to run herd over the entire town of Mudbug, Louisiana. Unfortunately, death doesn't slow down Helena one bit. DEA Agent Luc LeJeune is wondering what his undercover assignment investigating the sexy scientist has gotten him into - especially as it seems someone wants her dead.

A good book in need of an editor that would have stopped you from wondering time and again how the characters got from one scene to the other. This is a cute story that with just a bit more care would have hung together more. Even a pretty laid back reader like me can't quite tolerate the inconsistencies so I'll not be in search of the next one in this series. Too bad, because it did have potential.

Born to a prominent Chicago judge and his stifled socialite wife, Mia Dennett moves against the grain as a young inner-city art teacher. One night, Mia enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. With his smooth moves and modest wit, Colin Thatcher seems at first like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

This is an extremely well written character study of family woven into a crime drama. Add to that locations that almost become characters and you have one truly fine novel that I wish I had picked up much sooner. The only flaw is the narration which is "okay" but not consistent. I confess there were a couple of times I had to rewind to figure out what had just been mumbled. Even given that, this is a great book from an author that is on her way to fame.

Saint Odd: Odd Thomas, Book 7

Odd Thomas is back where it all started…because the time has come to finish it. Since he left his simple life in the small town of Pico Mundo, California, his journey has taken him to places strange and wonderful, mysterious and terrifying. Across the land, in the company of mortals and spirits alike, he has known kindness and cruelty, felt love and loss, saved lives and taken them - as he's borne witness to humanity's greatest good and darkest evil.

I like that this finally came to a conclusion and that Koontz does a fine job of ending it. It feels like he was out of ideas two books ago. While I'll miss the book 1-5 Odd Thomas, it was fine to conclude the series with a few nods to the faithful. As always, the narrator is superb.

All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel

Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is 12, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

Well written story that provides a new view of all of the victims of the Nazis. Such a horrible time viewed through the eyes of children is buoyed by a lyrical tone and magical elements that help to find just the right pace and tone. Great book.

The Girl on the Train: A Novel

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. "Jess and Jason," she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good? Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train is an emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller and an electrifying debut.

Please avoid comparing to other recent novels and just take this one as a stand-alone well thought through mystery. The perspective on this one is pretty rare and quite surprising. I confess a real preference for complex characters presented flaws-and-all in my books, and this one did a fine job with that. If you like good writing, pretty good narration, and a great who-dun-it, you'll love this British mystery. Watch out for spoilers - - I've caught a few in the reviews. Just buy this one and enjoy.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

The irascible A. J. Fikry, owner of Island Books - the only bookstore on Alice Island - has already lost his wife. Now his most prized possession, a rare book, has been stolen from right under his nose in the most embarrassing of circumstances. The store itself, it seems, will be next to go. One night upon closing, he discovers a toddler in his children’s section with a note from her mother pinned to her Elmo doll: I want Maya to grow up in a place with books and among people who care about such kinds of things. I love her very much, but I can no longer take care of her.

Good writing, interesting story, but for some reason I wasn't as invested in the lives of the characters as I wanted to be. I never felt like I understood or could imagine being any of them, save maybe the simple but heart-of-gold cop. Still, it's a good story and the narrator is excellent - - come on, it's Scott Brick so you know the performance will rock. I think my problem may have been I really don't like snobs, and under it all, that's who the main character is - - a caring snob.

The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café

In this delightful 15th installment, Mma Ramotswe has her hands full both at home and in the office. To add to her current challenges, her devoted partner, Grace Makutsi, has decided to branch out on her own and open The Handsome Man's Deluxe Cafe. But even “Miss 97 Per Cent” can't quite meet all the demands of running a business - not to mention those that a lightning strike makes on her building.

Mma Romatswe is like a dear friend - - I love visiting her and her world. I love to listen to these wonderful books and feel like I've gone home - - although I've never visited the continent. This is an especially wonderful visit. Come with us.

This is one of those "you HAVE to listen to it to fully enjoy it" books. Yep, Amy Poehler is hysterically funny (no surprise), slightly bawdy (not much of a surprise), and delightfully wise (a bit of a surprise). Having loved her on SNL and Parks and Rec, I knew I'd love her book and no surprise at all, I was right. You will too.

Just one bit of warning, she is not the "G" rated Leslie Knope on this one; this is the "R" rated Amy Poehler.

Festive in Death: In Death, Book 39

Personal trainer Trey Ziegler was in peak physical condition. If you didn't count the kitchen knife in his well-toned chest. Lieutenant Eve Dallas soon discovers a lineup of women who'd been loved and left by the narcissistic gym rat. While Dallas sorts through the list of Ziegler's enemies, she's also dealing with her Christmas shopping list - plus the guest list for her and her billionaire husband's upcoming holiday bash.

I am such a closeted fan of the "In Death" series by J.D. Robb. Closeted because I don't want everyone to know how easily my tastes slip to the ridiculousness of a hard-edged female cop of the future married to gorgeous, slightly bad boy, go-zillionaire, living in a mansion with so many rooms you don't know them all. Any questions that this all takes place in a romance novel? I don't read stuff like that. Okay, so I've also read the other 38+ of these, but only because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

This is the next one. Fortunately it's also a good next one. The murder is wrapped in Christmas and holly this time, and the characters are so stereotypical they could only be in a J.D. Robb book. Or in a Nora Roberts book. But I digress.

To fully appreciate this one you really do need to know the characters (Peabody is my favorite!), and understand the difficulties that they've been through to fully appreciate this one. I do love when authors throw one out there for the faithful - - and this is certainly one of those. The narrator is always so good and after 38 other practices, has the voice and the nuance of each character down cold. It's like visiting old friends. Enjoy if this is your cup of tea, just please don't tell anyone it's mine!

One Plus One: A Novel

Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied, and your math-whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can't afford to pay for. That's Jess' life in a nutshell - until an unexpected knight-in-shining-armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess' knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages...maybe ever.

This lovely book is the perfect reminder of what the ups and downs of being a family really is, and that your family is who YOU choose it to be. I lived, fretted, rejoiced, worried, and felt for each character as each lived through the tortures and triumphs of life - - just praying that they all are "okay" when it's all said and done. Great narration of a wonderful British family (and yes, I did miss a few of the references) that proves one plus one equals more.

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